In Philadelphia, David Murphy reports after "setting attendance records in each of the last two seasons, the Phillies are well on their way to another season of full houses" at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies VP/Ticket Sales & Operations John Weber said that the team has "already sold out" 15 of its 81 home games. The Phillies take a "club-record 123-game home sellout streak into the 2011 season." Furthermore, the Phillies sold more than 70,000 tickets on Thursday, a "record on the first day that single-game tickets were available." To date, more than 3.3 million tickets have been sold for the upcoming season (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/18).
NOT ALL IS LOST IN QUEENS: Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard said the team's season-ticket renewals are "substantially higher than where we were last year," though he declined to offer specifics. Howard indicated that the "improving economy has helped, as have decreases in prices and increases in perks for season-ticket holders." Ticket prices at Citi Field are down an average of 14% compared to '10, "with season-ticket holders getting" 10% off individual game prices. The Mets last week also unveiled "five-, 11- and 17-game packs that include a ticket to one of the biggest attractions on the calendar -- Opening Day or the Yankees series -- and add a free bonus ticket." Howard said response to that promotion has been "almost surprisingly strong" (NEWSDAY, 2/18).
SHOW YOUR CARDS: Before the Cardinals' contract negotiations with 1B Albert Pujols were suspended on Wednesday, team Chair & CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. said that the club "explored 'different avenues' to modify its offer." Sources confirmed that "one possibility explored was offering Pujols a stake in the team to increase a contract's potential value." In St. Louis, Derrick Goold notes it is an "option that appears to be against baseball policy, but a deeper look at the rules shows it's not expressly forbidden" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/18).
FAN SUES BRAVES: In Atlanta, Rhonda Cook reports a Pirates fan is suing the Braves "because the baseball club's security officers and ushers allegedly ignored complaints about six rowdy fans who later attacked the Macon man, knocking out 11 teeth, breaking his jaw and leaving him in a pool of blood outside a Turner Field restroom." According to a suit filed Tuesday in Fulton County State Court, Elmer Collins is "asking to be reimbursed at least $38,714 for medical bills, almost all of it for 'estimated future surgery'" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/18).
